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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Despite hopeful beginnings, negotiations to get roads paved in Ndilo have hit another bump.

In late June, Yellowknives Dene First Nation CEO John Carter told city council he was willing to compromise to work out a deal - like turning ownership of Ndilo roads over to the city.

Four parties then became involved in the discussions: the Yellowknives Dene, the city, the territorial government and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC).

Then, about a month ago, INAC withdrew from the negotiations to contact its lawyers in regards to handing over Ndilo's roads to the city's control, according to Carter.

"That basically brought everything to a grinding halt," said Carter.

"If you've ever dealt with the government you know if they're talking to their lawyers you've just pushed the project back two years."

"It's typical of INAC," added Carter. "Their role in life seems to be throwing stumbling blocks in our way."

While INAC confirmed that it is seeking legal counsel to determine whose jurisdiction the roads fall under, the department declined to comment further.

Yet, with the department's help or not, Carter said the Yellowknives Dene will be going ahead with trying to get the road paved.

"The roads in Ndilo haven't been paved in 30 years. The city can afford to pave its alleyways but apparently it can't afford to pave the roads in Ndilo," said Carter.

He estimates it would cost about $1.5 million to pave the roads. Though it may seem like a big sum at first, he added, if broken down into three phases at $375,000 each year for the city - the Yellowknives will pay a quarter of the costs - it becomes more manageable. He doesn't lay the blame squarely on the city, though.

"The message people are getting is the city doesn't care and I don't think that's true," said Carter.

If the city were to step up and pave the roads, he added, "it would be the city accepting Ndilo as part of itself."

"It's the subject of ongoing discussions, our administrations are working together on it," said Mayor Gord Van Tighem.

Van Tighem said more details will be cemented during the upcoming budget discussions.

Currently, the city receives a $140,000 yearly grant from INAC in lieu of taxes from the First Nation and Carter said he recognizes that's not nearly enough to get the roads paved.

"Frankly that doesn't even cover the costs of plowing the roads in Ndilo or laying down calcium in the summer," he said.

"We pay $140,000 each year and we get nothing," said Chief Fred Sangris.

Ideally, said Carter, he'd like to see paving start next year.

"Everybody accepts it as normal when they cross that barrier into Ndilo that somehow it's OK that the roads in Ndilo aren't paved," Carter said.

"It's pretty disheartening when you think we are truly a modern city North of 60 and yet you have a whole area of the city that for some reason its roads are dirt roads."